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Sunday, June 27, 2010

Making Lemonade out of Lemons

So instead of throwing things, crying and setting fire to the pattern in my kitchen....I immediately kicked into Plan B.  See I knew that I had enough fabric left to recut a front pattern from my TNT dress pattern so I did.  I did a pivot and slide to add some to the waistline and flare the skirt out a little  ~ cut that sucker out and now may I present to you a v-neckline, a-line version of my TNT dress pattern.


This is a whispering piece, not a shouting piece...like my last dress. 



I lined the dress and added piping to the neckline.  The dress has my signature lace on the lining hem and the armholes are bound with black bias binding. It has a 20" invisible zipper in the back. 

It will be a workhorse in my professional work wardrobe...cause I can always use a navy blue silk dress...the Vogue 9666 pattern will be given a quiet burial...tossed into the garbage.  It does not deserve a large ceremonial affair since the promise of the pattern envelope never materialized.


Next up are the black linen pants.  They are a wardrobe necessity...and then I will figure out what I'm going to make during the 4th of July weekend.  I have a barbecue to attend (don't we all here in the States?) but most of my time will be my own...since the SO has to work.

...as always, more later...

41 comments:

  1. At least something good came out of your hard work. Sew on!

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  2. Well done :) This dress is going to be so useful - think of all the ways you can accessorise it. Very classy.

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  3. absolutely gorgeous. This dress looks comfortable and work worthy, an awesome combo.

    Way to go on booting out a pattern that didn't work for you !

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  4. SewingLibrarianJune 28, 2010 12:24 AM

    A nice save! And you will wear this dress a LOT, I'm sure.

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  5. Good choice. Carolyn, I'm beginning the think that my comfort zone is my zone not because I'm lazy and not experimental but when it comes to sewing my comfort zone consists of lines and shapes that flatter me and wear well. I don't mind a construction challenge, if I can get into the zone. I'm always sorry when I violate the comfort zone, go for a shape that's interesting but not me. You do have my sympathy and support with this pattern. So glad you made a fabulous save

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  6. that is a very lovely quiet piece. Enjoy. g

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  7. Good save - it looks like it will be one of those really wearable dresses in your wardrobe now.

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  8. Great job making the dress into something you will wear and enjoy. I like the piping around the neckline.

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  9. No one will ever reckognize that this dress is a plan B. Well done!

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  10. i hate when patterns don't do what they are meant to do. ugh, hate that
    at least you were able to salvage it somehow.

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  11. Great save and good for you for not just chucking the dress in the garbage along with the pattern. It is now a beautiful dress.

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  12. what a save! I always love having a navy blue dress or two in my work wardrobe as well. ;)
    (And I love the the neckline piping!)

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  13. All's well that ends well. Great basic dress, the neckling a lovely detail.

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  14. Great save Carolyn.
    You know know I feel about black dresses.
    This is subtle and lovely.

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  15. Well done! You're an inspiration. The dress looks fabulous and you must feel great to have created such a beautiful garment from something that wasn't going quite right!

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  16. Great save! I love a basic, solid color dress. It will go anywhere, paired with a little jacket.

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  17. Feeling rather redundant, I must say "good for you" . . . that was some really nice fabric, and now you've got a classic dress which will see a lot of use!

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  18. haha, I love the photo of the traitor in the trashcan. :D

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  19. How wonderful that something so nice came out of all your work. That whispering dress looks like a major player; sometimes speaking softly is the best way to go.

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  20. Good save.. At least it wasn't a total waste of fabric.

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  21. Lovely recovery! And it's a V-neck, wooohooo! Will this be known as the Phoenix dress?

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  22. NICE SAVE!!! You look great in your new dress.

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  23. Very nice save! I still would have lit up the pattern in the fireplace. Very cathartic I find. :) K

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  24. The dress is beautiful and will be the perfect backdrop for dramatic jackets or accessories.

    I thought the pattern trashing photo was funny. I used to feel guilty trashing patterns, but now feel that I shouldn't be loving on something that doesn't love me back.

    Good idea to cool your jets and think your way out of the problem. No one would know that your dress isn't the original design, it looks so put together.

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  25. What a good solution! Looks great on you!

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  26. Genius!! This dress is gorgeous, you will wear it lots and can laugh about the fact that the bad Vogue pattern didn't get the better of you after all :)

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  27. Yeah, great save! Looks good on you!

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  28. Great Save! I would have done the fire in the kitchen. Hmmmm..there's learning there for me. The dress is a pretty wardrobe basic and looks great on you.

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  29. I have to tell you, I have never yet made a cross over top or dress that looked good on my. Personally I think they are ideally worn for A cups and I have decided to not even try any more. I am sure it can be done but here is how I see it. If it fits, it is skimming over your boobs and hanging from the apex to the floor, not flattering. OR, you just can't get that cross over right. Does it go between my boobs? on top of my boobs? I have found it seeks it's own level and that is not always flattering.
    Congratulations on putting this behind you and coming out of it with a truly flattering lovely garment. Sometimes you just gotta know when to fold 'em.

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  30. Great save! Love the piping at the neckline!

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  31. I am glad to see you were able to save the dress! It looks great now!

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  32. You are my sewing hero! It never would have occurred to me just to cutg a new front.

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  33. Your plan B worked quite well!

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  34. The piping at the neckline is a really luxe touch--very nice.

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  35. I'm so glad you were able to save it!

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  36. Nice save! Your dress is such a classic:)

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  37. Good for you! Forget about that other dress, this one is so much better.

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  38. Fantastic save. Gotta love those workhorse pieces. :)

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